Academic Master's and PhD

Established in 2007 within the framework of the Center for Research and Documentation on Contemporary Brazilian History at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV CPDOC) and the School of Social Sciences, at its conception PPHPBC reflected in its fields of study and research the main characteristic of the institution: interdisciplinarity. Indeed, interdisciplinarity is one of the most esteemed and renowned attributes of the institution and of the faculty responsible for the master’s and doctorate program. Embracing the interface between studies of history, politics, and cultural heritage, we endeavor to educate master’s and doctoral candidates with a strong interest in the contemporary dimensions of Brazilian and world political and cultural history, capable of translating this enthusiasm into innovative ways of conducting historical research in dialogue with the social sciences.

PPHPBC is organized around the field of study “History, Politics and Cultural Heritage.” In the case of PPHPBC’s academic degree program, this inherent thematic diversity is structured into three research areas. The first is “Institutions and Politics,” encompassing studies dedicated to a better understanding of the processes of institution-building and decision-making within governmental structures, in addition to exploring the role of political and social leaders, as well as their multiple and complex interfaces with broader political institutions. The second research area refers to “Memory and Culture,” which brings together lines of investigation addressing the concepts of heritage, culture (material and immaterial), tradition and representation. There is also the “International Relations” research area, focused on transformations in the international order, nation-states foreign policies, as well as the international actions of non-state actors. The regular offering of a varied set of courses linked to the three research areas that comprise PPPHPBC provides the student body with solid interdisciplinary training, enabling them to use varied methodological tools to build their research agendas.

The PPHPBC faculty profile reflects precisely the interdisciplinary inspiration that oriented the creation of FGV CPDOC, integrating historians, anthropologists, sociologists, and political scientists. To provide its students with excellent training, faculty are dedicated to maintaining their scholarship and teaching up-to-date, both through international training experiences, and through courses in the digital humanities, a field in constant development in the department’s research and teaching agenda. Faculty are also committed to encouraging the integration of students into the academic environment at FGV CPDOC, whether through direct participation in research projects conducted by faculty members, or through participation in the numerous activities of the research working groups (“labs”), thereby exposing students to complementary educational and intellectual experiences.

PPHPBC prioritizes internationalization by creating the conditions that enable faculty members to seek qualification abroad, further developing their international careers, and by supporting our students’ search for excellence and singular training with mobility and access to institutions abroad. Through exchange agreements with foreign universities, FGV CPDOC receives students from other countries and sends our students for an experience abroad. Additionally, PPHPBC offers three opportunities annually for students to apply for competitive grants to participate in national or international events, helping to establish a network of contacts within the academic community and a broad social milieu for student research. Most recently, PPHPBC was honored to receive approval for its Institutional Project “Data Science and the Social Sciences,” within the scope of the CAPES Institutional Internationalization Program, CAPES-Print, to further develop our commitment to the internationalization of our graduate programs. We continue to endeavor to provide every possible incentive for our students and instructors to develop and improve their education with foreign exchanges that enhance their learning and teaching knowledge and depth of experience.